Faber and Torres defend WEC titles

http://mmajunkie.comDespite the shutout decision victory, a WEC 34 title fight between WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber (21-1) and Jens Pulver (22-9-1) was much more entertaining than the judges’ scores of 50-44 would indicate.

The title fight, billed as the biggest featherweight fight in MMA history, capped off Sunday’s “WEC: Faber vs. Pulver” event at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif.

Faber showed a polished stand-up game and an iron jaw as he delivered former UFC champion Pulver his first-ever career loss at 145 pounds.

“It’s something I’ve always had,” Faber said of his striking skills. “Jens has power, guys, but I haven’t had a chance to really show mine.”

Faber had punched his way to near-victory on numerous occasions, and though Pulver was staggered and dazed through the 25-minute battle, he always found a way to survive.

Despite the loss, Pulver did manage to accomplish something that no other opponent has done in nearly four years and 17 fights: he took Faber to a decision.

In the night’s co-main event, WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres (34-1) posted his first successful title defense since defeating former champ Chase Beebe in February.

However, unlike much of the opposition in the champ’s previous 14 consecutive victories, Yoshiro Maeda (23-5-2) proved a game opponent who, at least initially, could handle a frantic and relentless pace from Torres.

Prior to the fight, Torres told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that he had to be aware of Maeda’s dangerous left hand. The advice would have been better served to Maeda.

Torres used dangerous counter-striking, precise body kicks and an array of other blows to batter his opponent throughout three rounds of a scheduled five. A quick left hand repeatedly found its mark, and though some crowd-pleasing ground battles were had, it was the constant stream of strikes that had Maeda’s face a mess.

By the end of the third round, he could barely see out of either eye. The swelling was substantial — and enough to force a stoppage before a fourth round would get underway.

The result was a third-round TKO stoppage and a signature victory for the 27-year-old Torres.

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